Pairing Or Associating Electronic Devices

ABSTRACT

A system that includes an implanted medical device such as an auditory prosthesis having a capacity to conduct communications on two channels to establish an association for communication with another electronic device. One of the channels is preferably a short range or near field channel, and the other channel is a broadcast channel. A method of asynchronous communication using both channels for establishing the association is also described.

FIELD

The present invention relates to establishing a communications linkbetween electronic devices. In one aspect, it relates to a method ofestablishing pairing between an implanted medical device and a remoteelectronic device.

PRIORITY

The present application claims priority from Australian ProvisionalPatent Application No. 2010904833 filed on Oct. 29, 2010.

The entire content of this document is hereby incorporate by reference.

BACKGROUND

Examples of the present invention will be described in the context ofpairing or associating a sound processor of a cochlear implant systemwith a remote electronic device, such as an external controller.However, the present invention should not be considered as being limitedto this exemplary field of use.

Auditory prostheses include any acoustic or electrical auditoryprosthesis, such as hearing aids, middle ear implants, cochlearimplants, brain stem implants, auditory mid-brain implant, and otherdevices which provide electrical and/or acoustic stimulation to arecipient to assist with hearing. Such prostheses require an input inthe form of an electrical signal that corresponds to a sound signal forprocessing by the prosthesis. The input is typically obtained from amicrophone that receives a sound signal. For example, a conventionalcochlear implant consists of an external part containing a microphone,sound processor, and a headpiece coil, and an implanted part, whichcontains an implant coil and a stimulator device coupled to an electrodearray.

Sound is received at the microphone, which generates an electricalsignal that is delivered to the sound processor as an input. The soundprocessor processes the input signal and generates control signals,according to a pre-defined sound processing strategy, for controllingthe stimulation of the electrode array of the stimulator device. Thecontrol signals are transferred over a transcutaneous link by theheadpiece coil via the implant coil to the stimulator device, whichsends corresponding stimuli to appropriate electrodes of the electrodearray that stimulate the recipient's auditory nerve to give a perceptionof hearing.

Bilateral auditory prosthesis systems exist. For example, a prosthesismay be fitted to both the right ear and left ear of a recipient to forma bilateral system. Each device in a bilateral system may operateindependently of the other, or they may communicate by either a wirelessor a wired connection in delivering joint assistance to the recipient.

From time to time it may be desirable to connect a component of such asystem (e.g. the sound processor) to a remote electronic device, such asa remote control, computer, or other sound processor, to enablecommunication between them (e.g. to perform diagnostic tests on theprocessor, adjust settings, etc.). For example, the Cochlear™ Nucleus®CP810 Sound Processor can be wirelessly associated with a Nucleus® CR110Remote Assistant (both manufactured by Cochlear Limited) to enable arecipient or other person using the Remote Assistant to easily monitor,control, and manage the operation of the sound processor and thecochlear implant generally.

The process for establishing communication between a sound processor anda remote electronic device is typically initiated by a user navigating amenu on the device and pressing the required control button. Thisprocess requires users to learn how to correctly initiate the pairing ofthe devices, which some people may find complicated.

Enabling one device to establish data communications with another devicewithout the user initiating the pairing can run the risk that devicespair in unintended ways. In some cases of use, formation of unintendedpairs is merely an inconvenience, but in others it may be a criticalproblem because the incorrect external device may obtain control of theauditory prosthesis.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a method of pairing acomponent of an auditory prosthesis and a remote electronic device thatprovides ease of use and maintains security, or at least provides analternative mechanism to existing techniques.

SUMMARY

In broad concept, the present invention provides a system that includesa first electronic device having a capacity to conduct communications ontwo channels to establish an association with a second electronicdevice. In certain embodiments, the first electronic device is anauditory prosthesis, and the second electronic device is a remoteelectronic device used for communicating with the auditory prosthesis.Embodiments of the present invention also encompass the secondelectronic device and the combination of the two devices together. Incertain embodiments, the auditory prosthesis is a left or a right earauditory prosthesis and the remote electronic device may be adapted tocommunicate with the left prosthesis and the right prosthesis so as toestablish an association with both. The present invention also broadlyrelates to a method of establishing such associations.

In some embodiments, the system and method can be operated withoutrequiring user input to begin the association. In other embodiments, themethod may include some user control, for example requiring a button tobe pressed to initiate or complete an association.

Accordingly, from one perspective, the invention broadly relates to amethod of establishing a communications link between a first electronicdevice and a second electronic device. In one embodiment, the methodincludes communicating over a first communications channel between anauditory prosthesis and a remote electronic device and communicatingover a second communications channel between the auditory prosthesis andthe remote electronic device. The first communications channel is ashort range or near field channel used to initiate a communicationslink, and the second communications channel is a broadcast channel tocommunicate over the communications link. The communications link isonly established if communications over both the first and secondchannels are completed. The method also includes the auditory prosthesisand the remote electronic device exchanging at least one identifier forthe communications link.

The auditory prosthesis may be an external component of a cochlearimplant adapted to establish a communications link with an implantcomponent of the cochlear implant. The auditory prosthesis may thereforeinclude a sound processor and a communications system adapted totransmit signals over a short range or near field channel forcontrolling stimulation of an electrode array of a cochlea stimulatordevice. In some embodiments, the auditory prosthesis is configured toonly allow establishment of a communications link with a remoteelectronic device when a communications link is not established with animplant component of the cochlear implant.

The first communication channel may, for example, be a 5 MHz inductivecoupling link, and the second communication channel may be a broadcastchannel, for example a 2.4 GHz radio frequency link. The first channelmay have a range as short as 10 millimeters or less. The second channelmay have a range of up to 10 meters. In other embodiments, the secondchannel may have a shorter range, anywhere down to about 100millimeters. The auditory prosthesis and the remote electronic devicemay further communicate over the first channel subsequent to the remoteelectronic device sending the response over the second communicationchannel to confirm the communications link. In this way, devices thatsend a response over the second communication channel that are outsidethe range of the first communication channel do not establish a linkwith the auditory prosthesis.

In addition to the method described above, the invention extends to animplanted medical device, such as an auditory prosthesis, and to anelectronic device adapted in hardware, firmware, and/or software toperform the method.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cochlear implant for implant in arecipient, which may be used in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an auditory prosthesis and a remoteelectronic device, which can be paired using a method according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow-chart illustrating a method for initiatingestablishment of a communications association between an auditoryprosthesis and remote electronic device in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow-chart illustrating an example of the method of FIG. 3that fails to result in the formation of an association between twodevices because an additional device attempts to complete the pairinginitiated by the auditory prosthesis;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a pairing managementarchitecture for a remote electronic device and an auditory prosthesisin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B represent configurations of an auditory prosthesis thatmay control pairing or association of a remote electronic device with anauditory prosthesis in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will now be describedin the context of the formation of an association between a soundprocessor forming part of a cochlear implant and an external controller.However, embodiments of the invention can be applied generally toimplanted medical devices, such as a pacemaker or implantablecardioverter-defibrillator. Therefore, aspects of the invention shouldnot be considered as being limited to the field of application of theillustrative embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cochlear implant system 100, implantedin a recipient having an outer ear 101, a middle ear 105, and an innerear 107. Components of outer ear 101, middle ear 105, and inner ear 107are described below, followed by a description of cochlear implantsystem 100.

In a fully functional ear, outer ear 101 includes an auricle 110 and anear canal 102. An acoustic pressure or sound wave 103 is collected byauricle 110 and is channeled into and through ear canal 102. Disposedacross the distal end of ear canal 102 is tympanic membrane 104, whichvibrates in response to the sound wave 103. This vibration is coupled tofenestra ovalis (or oval window) 112 through the three bones of middleear 105, collectively referred to as ossicles 106 and including malleus108, incus 109, and stapes 111. Bones 108, 109, and 111 of middle ear105 serve to filter and amplify sound wave 103, causing fenestra ovalis112 to articulate, or vibrate, in response to the vibration of tympanicmembrane 104. This vibration sets up waves of fluid motion of theperilymph within cochlea 140. Such fluid motion, in turn, activates tinyhair cells (not shown) inside of cochlea 140. Activation of the haircells causes appropriate nerve impulses to be generated and transferredthrough the spiral ganglion cells (not shown) and auditory nerve 114 tothe brain (also not shown) where they are perceived as sound.

Cochlear implant system 100 includes external component 142, which isdirectly or indirectly attached to the body of the recipient, andimplant component 144, which is temporarily or permanently implanted inthe recipient. External component 142 typically includes: one or moresound input elements, such as microphone 124 for detecting sound; soundprocessing unit 126; a power source (not shown); and external headpiececoil unit 128. External headpiece coil unit 128 includes external coil130, which is circular in shape, and, preferably, a magnet (not shown)secured directly or indirectly to external coil 130. Sound processingunit 126 processes the output of microphone 124 that is positioned, inthe depicted embodiment, adjacent to auricle 110 of the recipient. Soundprocessing unit 126 generates encoded signals, which are provided toexternal headpiece coil unit 128 via a cable (not shown).

Implant component 144 includes implant coil 136, stimulator unit 120,and elongated electrode assembly 118. Implant coil 136 includes,preferably, a magnet (not shown) fixed relatively concentric to theimplant coil. Implant coil 136 includes an internal coil (not shown),and, preferably, a magnet (also not shown) fixed relative to theinternal coil. Stimulator unit 120 is hermetically sealed withinbiocompatible housing 132, sometimes collectively referred to as theimplant unit. The internal coil receives power and stimulation data fromexternal coil 130, as noted above. Elongated electrode assembly 118 hasa proximal end connected to stimulator unit 120, and a distal endimplanted in cochlea 140. Elongated electrode assembly 118 extends fromstimulator unit 120 to cochlea 140 through mastoid bone 119 and isimplanted into cochlea 140. In some embodiments, electrode assembly 118may be implanted at least in basal region 116, and sometimes further incochlea 140. For example, elongated electrode assembly 118 may extendtowards the apical end of cochlea 140, referred to as cochlear apex 134.In certain circumstances, elongated electrode assembly 118 may beinserted into cochlea 140 via cochleostomy 122. In other circumstances,a cochleostomy may be formed through round window 121, fenestra ovalis112, promontory 123, or through an apical turn 147 of cochlea 140.

Elongated electrode assembly 118 includes electrode array 146 whichfurther includes a series of longitudinally aligned and distallyextending electrodes 148, disposed along a length thereof. Althoughelectrode array 146 may be disposed on electrode assembly 118, in mostpractical applications, electrode array 146 is integrated into electrodeassembly 118. As such, electrode array 146 is referred to herein asbeing disposed in electrode assembly 118. Stimulator unit 120 generatesstimulation signals that are applied by electrodes 148 to cochlea 140,thereby stimulating auditory nerve 114.

Because the cochlea is tonotopically mapped, that is, partitioned intoregions each responsive to stimulus signals in a particular frequencyrange, each electrode of electrode array 146 delivers a stimulatingsignal to a particular region of the cochlea. In the conversion of soundto electrical stimulation, frequencies are allocated to individualelectrodes of electrode assembly 118 that lie in positions in cochlea140 that are close to the region that would naturally be stimulated innormal hearing. This enables the prosthetic hearing implant to bypassthe hair cells (not shown) in cochlea 140 to directly deliver electricalstimulation to auditory nerve fibers (not shown), thereby allowing thebrain (not shown) to perceive hearing sensations resembling naturalhearing sensations. In achieving this, processing channels, that is,specific frequency bands with their associated signal processing paths,of sound processing unit 126 are mapped to a set of one or moreelectrodes to stimulate a desired nerve fiber or nerve region of cochlea140. Such sets of one or more electrodes used for stimulation arereferred to herein as “electrode channels” or “stimulation channels.”

In cochlear implant system 100, external coil 130 transfers electricalsignals (i.e., power and stimulation data) to internal coil 136 via aninductive RF link. Internal coil 136 is a closed loop wire antenna coilof multiple turns of electrically insulated single-strand ormulti-strand platinum or gold wire. The electrical insulation ofinternal coil 136 is provided by a flexible silicone molding (notshown). In use, biocompatible housing 132 may be positioned in a recessof the temporal bone (not shown) adjacent to auricle 110 of therecipient.

Cochlear implant system 100 of FIG. 1 may be used in bilateral implantsystems. For example, in some embodiments, cochlear implant system 100may be fitted to both the right ear and left ear of a recipient to forma bilateral implant system. In such a bilateral system, these cochlearimplants may operate independently of one another, or they maycommunicate by either a wireless or a wired connection in deliveringjoint stimulation to the recipient.

As discussed above, it may be necessary or desirable to establish acommunications link with cochlear implant system 100. This is mostconveniently done using a wireless communications link. FIG. 2 is ablock diagram showing components of an implantable medical device, suchas the cochlear implant system illustrated in FIG. 1, that are used informing a communications link with a second, external device.

FIG. 2 illustrates an electrical block schematic of auditory prosthesis200 and remote electronic device 202. Auditory prosthesis 200 mayinclude an external component connectable to an implant unit or may beanother device, such as a hearing aid. Remote electronic device 202could be a controller configured to interface with auditory prosthesis200, or another electronic device that needs to communicate withauditory prosthesis 200. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, auditoryprosthesis 200 is an external component connectable to implant unit 250.Implant unit 250 may be implant component 144 as described above. Inparticular, auditory prosthesis 200 may be a mostly implantable cochlearimplant, which includes both external and internal componentssubstantially as described above, or a totally implantable cochlearimplant, in which all the external components described with referenceto FIG. 1 are implanted internally.

Battery or power supply 204 delivers power to the components of auditoryprosthesis 200. In the present embodiment, signal processor 206 is adigital signal processor (DSP), which includes, depending on theparticular implementation, interfaces to input and output systems. Forexample, signal processor 206 may interface to one or more microphonesand/or interface to one or more outputs, such as a speaker and/or dataport. Auditory prosthesis 200 also includes communications controller208, which is connected to first transceiver 210 and second transceiver212. First transceiver 210 is configured to transmit and receive datasignals on a first communications channel, and second transceiver 212 isconfigured to transmit and receive on a second communications channel.

The first communications channel is preferably a short range or nearfield communications channel. In this example, the first communicationschannel is a 5 MHz, near field communications channel. Accordingly,auditory prosthesis 200 includes switch 214 and RF coil 216, which is inthe form of a circular coil. In some embodiments, RF coil 216 isexternal coil 130 (or primary coil) described above. In other words,auditory prosthesis 200 uses RF coil 216 for pairing with the remoteelectronic device and communicating (including transferring power) withthe implant component of the cochlear implant. In different embodiments,the first communications channel may have a different frequency selectedfrom within the range of 9 kHz to 30 MHz (inclusive). The arrangement ofusing a single coil for communications with both implant unit 250 andremote electronic device 202 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the case of a totally implantable cochlear implant, both externalcoil 130 and RF coil 216 are internally implanted coils that are able tocommunicate with external devices, such as remote electronic device 202.

Switch 214 is used to select the manner in which received signals arerouted through auditory prosthesis 200 (e.g. directly to the signalprocessor 206 or via communications controller 208). This providesadditional flexibility for the purposes of implementing a wider range offunctions and methods of processing that may not be related to thepairing process. Accordingly, in other embodiments, switch 214 can beomitted from prosthesis 200 and corresponding switch 238 may also beomitted from the remote electronic device 202.

Second transceiver 212 may be a radio frequency transceiver adapted tocommunicate wirelessly with another device, for example at 2.4 GHz.Second transceiver 212 is coupled to a suitable antenna, depicted inFIG. 2 as antenna 213. Second transceiver 212 and antenna 213 may have arange of up to about 10 m. However, in other embodiments, a transceiverand an antenna with a lower range may be used; for example, transceiver212 and an antenna 213 may have ranges of about 2 m to 5 m. Due tophysical constraints in the present embodiment on the location ofantennas 213, 242, the minimum range is about 10 cm to 15 cm. Shorterranges may reduce the reliability of the communications link, whereaslonger ranges may consume more power and may increase the risk ofinadvertent or incorrect pairing. Accordingly, the currently preferredrange is between about 0.5 m to about 1 m. However, other technologiesmay provide ranges that are larger or smaller, which could be used withthis invention. Second transceiver 212 of auditory prosthesis 200 andsecond transceiver 240 of remote electronic device 202 may accordinglyhave a power within the range of about −20 dBm to about −15 dBm. Inother embodiments, with longer and shorter ranges, the power may bewithin the range of about −25 dBm to about 0 dBm. In still otherembodiments, the second communications channel has another frequencyselected from within the range of 30 MHz to 11 GHz (inclusive).

In some embodiments, the first and second communications channels areselected to have different frequency bands. However, in otherembodiments there may be an overlap in frequencies, in which case thecommunication protocols may be different so as to distinguishcommunications across the two channels.

Battery or power supply 224 provides power to remote electronic device202. The functions of remote electronic device 202 are controlled bycontroller 226, for example, a digital signal processor or amicroprocessor. Additionally, interface controller 226 is coupled touser interface 228. User interface 228 could be any known type ofinterface, such as a screen, touch screen, keyboard, mouse, series ofbuttons, or any other user input device. Remote electronic device 202may also include an additional input or output mechanism to enableconnection to other devices or systems. In some embodiments, those otherdevices or systems may provide an expanded or different user interface;for example, where the other device is a desktop computer running anapplication for communicating with remote electronic device 202.Communications with auditory prosthesis 200 are controlled by thecommunications controller 232.

Remote electronic device 202 includes first transceiver 234 forcommunicating on a first communications channel. Accordingly, auditoryprosthesis 202 includes RF coil 236, which in this embodiment is in theform of an inductive closed loop, to communicate with RF coil 216.Switch 238 is also provided.

Second transceiver 240 is provided for communicating on the secondcommunications channel. Second transceiver 240 is coupled to antenna 242and is adapted for transmitting radio frequency signals (e.g. at 2.4GHz). Although this example indicates that remote electronic device 202is capable of transmitting on the first communications channel, this maynot be the case in some embodiments. Accordingly, first transceiver 234of remote electronic device 202 may be a receiver only.

It should be understood that the present example is described as havinga radio frequency channel based upon electromagnetic (EM) fieldpropagation (e.g. 2.4 GHz) and near field magnetic inductive (MI)coupling (e.g. 5 MHz). However, the present invention could also beimplemented with other physical communications methods. For example,either or both communications channels could use other parts of the EMor MI spectrum for establishing communication channels, such asmicrowave, optical (e.g. infrared or ultraviolet), or acoustic channels(e.g. using ultrasonic waves). As will be described below, the twocommunications channels have different roles in the communicationsprocess. The first communications channel plays the role of initiatingcommunications and transmitting confirmation signals between theimplanted medical device and remote electronic device. The secondcommunications channel is used for data transmission purposes during theestablishment of the communications link and for communications over thelink itself. In some embodiments, the first communications link isoperable over a distance of up to 3 meters. In other embodiments thefirst communications link is operable over a distance of approximately 2m, down to 0.5 m or even less than 1 cm. As will be seen from thefollowing description, utilizing a short range channel, which may be 0.5cm or less, can have certain advantages in preventing unwanted pairingbetween devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates method 300 for establishing the communications linkby pairing two devices. In FIG. 3, the devices are referenced asauditory prosthesis 301 and remote electronic device 302. These may havethe internal structure described for the corresponding components inFIG. 2. Method 300 is an asynchronous communications procedure betweenthe two devices over two channels.

Prior to the beginning of method 300, a user (who may or may not have animplanted medical device, such as auditory prosthesis 301) wishing topair the devices places them sufficiently close together so thatcommunication can take place across both the first and secondcommunications channels. In the illustrated embodiment, the firstcommunications channel is a near field communications link establishedusing the first transceiver of auditory prosthesis 301 and the firsttransceiver of remote electronic device 302, as illustrated in FIG. 2.Accordingly, remote electronic device 302 and auditory prosthesis 301need to be relatively positioned such that the near field communicationsmechanisms will operate.

In embodiments where auditory prosthesis 301 has an external componentand an implant unit, auditory prosthesis 301 intermittently transmits orcontinually activates on the first communications channel. In theseembodiments, the first communications channel may include: a powersignal, which may be power frames or a modulated power signal, forpowering up the implant component of the implant; and data, which may bestimulation or sound signals. Either of these types of signals may beused to initiate pairing. Use of the power signal alone will be suitablefor many embodiments.

Because auditory prosthesis 301 activates on the first communicationschannel intermittently or continually, and as a result of implementingmethod 300, all a user needs to do to initiate pairing with the remoteelectronic device is bring them into sufficiently close proximity that asignal transmitted on the first communications channel by auditoryprosthesis 301 can be received by remote electronic device 302. In someembodiments, no other user initiation of the system is necessary. Inother embodiments, user input may be required; for example, a button onthe external device may need to be depressed before step 308 (see below)is initiated.

In some embodiments where auditory prosthesis 301 is a cochlear implantincluding an external component and implant unit 250 (see FIG. 2), thepairing method is only performed if the external component of auditoryprosthesis 301 is not communicably connected to the implant component ofthe cochlear implant. This is achieved by monitoring for telemetryreceived by auditory prosthesis 301 back from the internal implantthrough coil 216. For example, auditory prosthesis 301 may only performstep 310 in FIG. 3 if it is not receiving telemetry from an implantcomponent of the cochlear implant in response to the power signalauditory prosthesis 301 is transmitting on the first communicationschannel. In other words, to avoid situations of cross-pairing or falseassociations, the external component of auditory prosthesis 301automatically disables the function for transmit ACCEPT signals once theimplant component of the auditory prosthesis is powered. In this case,auditory prosthesis 301 will not confirm pairing. Accordingly, when theprimary coil or headpiece coil unit of external component of theprosthesis (see also coil 128 of FIG. 1) is connected to the secondarycoil of the implant component of the prosthesis (see also coil 136 ofFIG. 1) as in normal operation mode, the prosthesis cannot be pairedwith any remote electronic device.

This method is illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 6A, external component 604 of auditory prosthesis600, which may be in the form of a cochlear implant 100, is coupled toimplant component 608 of auditory prosthesis 600, as determined throughprimary coil 606 of external component 604 and secondary coil 610 ofimplant component 608, as explained above. Remote electronic device 602and auditory prosthesis 600 will not pair when in this configuration.Remote electronic device 602 and auditory prosthesis 600 can only pairwhen in the uncoupled configuration shown in FIG. 6B and will remainpaired during operation of the cochlear implant or other implantedmedical device.

Returning to method 300 represented in FIG. 3, the method includescommunications over the following two channels:

-   -   a first communications channel 303 that is a short range or near        field communications link; e.g. a channel formed by inductive        coupling, modulated at around 5 MHz, which is indicated in FIG.        3 by solid lines; and    -   a second communications channel 304 that is a broadcast channel        or a channel with an address known by all devices (i.e. both        remote electronic device 302 and auditory prosthesis 301); in        this embodiment, second communications channel 304 is a wireless        radio frequency channel modulated at around 2.4 GHz, which is        indicated in FIG. 3 by dotted lines.

In first step 306, the external component of auditory prosthesis 301transmits an INITIATE PAIR signal on first communications channel 303,and the signal is received by remote electronic device 302. Remoteelectronic device 302 responds in step 308 by transmitting a PAIR signalon second communications channel 304. The PAIR signal in step 308 is abroadcast transmission that will be receivable by any other devicewithin range. In response to receiving the PAIR signal, auditoryprosthesis 301 accepts the request to pair with remote electronic device302 and, in step 310, transmits an ACCEPT signal, which includes aunique identifier such as a key or address for the communications linkover second communications channel 304.

The unique identifier of the external component of auditory prosthesis301 may be stored in hardware or firmware readable by communicationscontroller 208, as shown in FIG. 2. This identifier is used toidentify/address communications between remote external device 302 andauditory prosthesis 301 after pairing has been completed. For example,the unique identifier may be placed in the headers of data packetstransmitted between the devices.

In other embodiments, the unique identifier for the communications linkmay be sourced from remote electronic device 302 or from the implantcomponent of auditory prosthesis 301, instead of the external part ofauditory prosthesis 301. For example, where the unique identifier issourced from remote electronic device 302, the unique identifier may betransmitted in step 308, and in step 310 the prosthesis may return thesame identifier to accept the pairing. Where remote electronic device302 is to pair with a plurality of prostheses, it may have acorresponding plurality of unique identifiers. In still otherembodiments, the unique identifier for a communications link may be acombination of the unique identifiers formed by an identifier forauditory prosthesis 301 and an identifier for remote electronic device302, such as a serial amalgamation of the identifiers.

In step 312, the external component of auditory prosthesis 301 confirmsthe pairing request by transmitting a CONFIRM PAIRING signal on firstcommunications channel 303. Upon receipt of the ACCEPT signal, remoteelectronic device 302 opens confirm window 314. If the confirm window314 expires before remote electronic device 302 receives the CONFIRMPAIRING signal sent by auditory prosthesis 301 in step 312, remoteelectronic device 302 will determine that pairing has not succeeded(this process will be described further in connection with FIG. 4). Inresponse to the receiving the CONFIRM PAIRING signal transmitted in step312 prior to the expiration of confirm window 314, remote electronicdevice 302 will transmit a LOCK PAIRING signal in step 316 to auditoryprosthesis 301 using second communications channel 304, which willconfirm the unique identifier associated with the communications linkbeing established.

After transmitting the CONFIRM PAIRING signal in step 312, the externalcomponent of auditory prosthesis 301 will open lock window 318. If theexternal component of auditory prosthesis 301 does not receive the LOCKPAIRING signal transmitted in step 316 before the expiration of lockwindow 318, the external component of auditory prosthesis 301 will abortthe pairing process and cancel the identifier associated with thechannel being established. If the external component of auditoryprosthesis 301 receives the LOCK PAIRING signal transmitted in step 316prior to the expiration of lock window 318 and the unique identifier inthe LOCK PAIRING signal matches the unique identifier transmitted instep 310, it transmits an ACK signal in step 320 using secondcommunications channel 304. Upon remote electronic device 302 receivingthe ACK signal, the communications link is established andcommunications can proceed on second communications channel 304.

FIG. 4 illustrates method 400 similar to that of FIG. 3, except thatFIG. 4 illustrates the case in which multiple auditory prosthesesattempt to pair with the same remote electronic device. In this example,there is illustrated auditory prosthesis 401.1, second auditoryprosthesis 401.2, nth auditory prosthesis 401.n, and remote electronicdevice 402. As previously described, in the preferred embodiment firstcommunications channel 403 is a near field communications channel, andsecond communications channel 404 is a longer range channel. Asdescribed in connection with FIG. 3, pairing is initiated in step 406 byauditory prosthesis 401.1 transmitting an INITIATE PAIR signal on firstcommunications channel 403. This message is received by remoteelectronic device 402, and in response remote electronic device 402broadcasts a PAIR signal on second communications channel 404. In thepresent case, second auditory prosthesis 401.2 receives the PAIR signal.This may occur because the second communications channel has arelatively long range compared with the first channel. Accordingly, anunintended auditory prosthesis has received the PAIR signal and, inresponse, generates a unique identifier. In step 410, second auditoryprosthesis 401.2 transmits an ACCEPT signal, which contains the uniqueidentifier, on second communications channel 404.

As was the case in FIG. 3, remote electronic device 402 receives theACCEPT signal transmitted by second auditory prosthesis 401.2 and opensconfirm window 412. However, because second auditory prosthesis 401.2was not intended to be paired with remote electronic device 402, it islikely that it will be out of range for communication via firstcommunication channel 403. Thus, when it sends a CONFIRM PAIRING signalin step 414, the signal is not received by remote electronic device 402.Accordingly, confirm window 412 expires without receiving a CONFIRMPAIRING signal. Since remote electronic device 402 has determined thatthe pairing process has failed, it will not transmit a lock pairingcommand. Therefore, lock window 416 opened by second auditory prosthesis401.2 will expire without receiving a LOCK PAIRING signal, and secondauditory prosthesis 401.2 will determine that the pairing has beenunsuccessful.

Remote electronic device 402, upon failure of the initial attempt atforming an association with the first auditory prosthesis 401.1, willreturn to the state in which it may send a request for pairing andrepeats step 408. If this transmission is received by an auditoryprosthesis e.g. 401.n, the pairing process begins again.

Due to the communication protocol described above, implemented as anasynchronous non-session layer 1 protocol, discretesynchronization/pilot packets transmitted in steps 308, 408 arestatistically unlikely to register with more than one external devicefor a given protocol window. Timing of the synchronization frames maybe, for example, 64 msec apart and establish the subsequent timing ofthe payload packets within which the pairing request information iscontained. As such, in practice, the protocol behaves such that thebroadcast pairing request is received and acknowledged by either theintended device or the unintended device, but not both.

As can be seen from the above description of FIG. 4, the use of a nearfield channel for initiating the establishment of the communicationslink between the two devices takes advantage of the short transmissiondistance of that channel which advantageously prevents a pairing betweenunintended auditory prostheses and remote electronic devices.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic representation of the pairing managementarchitecture of an embodiment of the present invention. In oneembodiment, the method is able to be activated from any user interfaceof the remote electronic device and will not normally require the remoteelectronic device to actively unpair at any stage. The unpairing processperformed by the remote electronic device will simply requireoverwriting the unique identifier or key associated with an establishedcommunications link in a memory of the remote electronic device. This isdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows first state 502 inwhich no pairing identifier is written to the memory of the remoteelectronic device. Upon completing of pairing process 504, the remoteelectronic device will write pairing address 506 to its memory. Thisaddress can be overwritten by re-establishing a communications link withthe same auditory prosthesis in process 508 or pairing with a differentauditory prosthesis in process 510.

Additionally, process 512 illustrates how, in some instances, the remoteelectronic device can be arranged to pair with more than one auditoryprosthesis, as would be the case where a controller is paired with aleft and a right ear auditory prosthesis of a bilateral cochlear implantsystem to achieve state 514. The pairing is performed in series. In someembodiments, auditory prosthesis 200 includes in firmware or hardware anidentification of whether it is a left ear or a right ear auditoryprosthesis and communicates this to the remote electronic device, forexample, in step 310 of FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, the remote electronic device is configured to pairwith only one left ear auditory prosthesis and only one right earauditory prosthesis. For example, if it has paired with a left earauditory prosthesis and the transmission received from an auditoryprosthesis in step 310 (or at another stage of the process) indicatesthat the prosthesis is a left ear auditory prosthesis, then, if thepairing process is successful, the previous pairing identifier for theleft ear auditory prosthesis will be overwritten. The same check mayoccur for a right ear auditory prosthesis.

In other embodiments, the remote electronic device is configured to pairwith more than one left ear auditory prosthesis and more than one rightear auditory prosthesis. In these embodiments, the external device maydistinguish between prostheses by a serial number or other identifier ofthe prosthesis.

Various alternative implementations of parts of the processes asdescribed herein may be applied in certain embodiments of the presentinvention. For example, the implanted medical device and/or remoteelectronic devices could be configured such that either one or both ofthe devices requires a single button press to request pairing. Thisbutton press can be used either to initiate the method described in FIG.3, or to confirm receipt of one of the earlier steps of the pairingrequest. Such a process preserves the security features of the presentinvention but gives users a sense of control over the pairing of theirdevices.

In the illustrative embodiments described herein, the transmissions onthe first communications channel are simply a single pulse or bit ofinformation being transmitted across the short range or near fieldchannel such that closed loop communications across the channel exist.However, more complex transmissions can be performed across the shortrange or near field channel in some implementations of the presentinvention. For example, a first identifier can be transmitted across theshort range or near field channel, which can then be confirmed with oneor more of the subsequent transmissions on the second communicationschannel. This provides an additional check against unintendedassociations. Alternatively, the first exchange of identifiers may occuron the second communications channel (i.e. in step 308 and/or step 310in FIG. 3) and a confirmatory exchange performed on the firstcommunication channel (i.e. in step 312 in FIG. 3). In someimplementations of these embodiments, the identifier communicated usingthe short range or near field channel may be the same as the identifiercommunicated using the second communications channel.

In some embodiments, the identifier communicated via the short range ornear field channel may be the identifier used for communications betweenthe devices after pairing. In other words, in some embodiments asdescribed previously herein, the exchange of an identifier occurs overthe second communications channel (the broadcast channel) only. In otherembodiments, the exchange utilizes both the first and secondcommunications channels, and in still other embodiments, the exchange iseffected using the first communications channel (the short range or nearfield channel) only.

Where only the short range or near field channel is used to exchangeidentifiers, for example by sending an identifier in step 312 of FIG. 3,then steps 308 and 310 may omit exchanging any identifier. These stepsmay involve transmitting a simple pulse or similar signal to establishthat there is a connection on the second communications channel.

The embodiments described herein use a near field EM coupling for thefirst communications channel. However, it should be appreciated that anychannel that is relatively short range may be used for the transmissionson the first communications channel. For example, ultrasonic or lightbased channels may be used for the first or second communicationschannels as alternatives to the other communications channels describedherein.

The auditory prosthesis embodiments described herein have been describedprimarily with reference to an auditory prosthesis such as a cochlearimplant. The method described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 takesadvantage of the primary coil connected to the external component of theprosthesis. In other embodiments, the remote electronic device mayinitiate the pairing. In other words, the remote electronic device mayintermittently or continually transmit a signal on the firstcommunications channel, which is received by the external component ofthe prosthesis to initiate pairing. Subsequent steps in the method maythen be reversed, with step 308 being a transmission from the auditoryprosthesis to the external device, and step 310 being an acceptancetransmitted from the external device to the auditory prosthesis. Step312 may then be a communication in either direction, or, in otherembodiments, communication in both directions may be required to confirmthe pairing. Steps 316 and 320 may similarly be reversed in transmissiondirections.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in thisspecification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings.All of these different combinations constitute various alternativeaspects of the invention.

1-30. (canceled)
 31. A method comprising: initiating establishment of acommunications link between a medical device and a remote electronicdevice by transmitting one or more signals from the medical device tothe remote electronic device over a first communications channel betweenthe medical device and the remote electronic device; and establishingthe communications link between the medical device and the remoteelectronic device by communicating over the first communications channeland a second communications channel between the medical device and theremote electronic device.
 32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:at least one of communicating over the first communications channel andcommunicating over the second communications channel comprisesexchanging between the medical device and the remote electronic deviceat least one identifier for the communications link.
 33. A method asclaimed in claim 32, wherein: a signal communicated over the secondcommunications channel has a longer range than a signal communicatedover the first communications channel.
 34. A method as claimed in claim32, wherein establishing the communications link comprises: transmittinga pair request signal from the remote electronic device to the medicaldevice over the second communications channel upon the medical deviceinitiating the establishment of the communication link; receiving thepair request signal by the medical device; transmitting an accept signalby the medical device over the second communications in response toreceiving the pair request signal; receiving the accept signal by theremote electronic device; transmitting a confirmation signal by themedical device; receiving the confirmation signal by the remoteelectronic device; determining whether the remote electronic devicereceived the confirmation signal; and ending the establishment of thecommunications link in response to determining that the remoteelectronic device failed to receive the confirmation signal.
 35. Amethod as claimed in claim 32, wherein the second communications channelis a 2.4 GHz radio frequency link.
 36. A method as claimed in claim 32,wherein the first communications channel is established using acomponent that has a transmission range limit that requires the medicaldevice to be in the immediate vicinity of the remote electronic device.37. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the action of communicatingover the first communications channel is executed when the medicaldevice and the remote electronic device are within 3 meters from eachother.
 38. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the firstcommunications channel has a frequency within a range of about 9 kHz toabout 30 MHz; and the second communications channel has a frequencywithin a range of about 30 MHz to about 11 GHz.
 39. An electronicdevice, comprising: a first communications system configured to at leasttransmit signals over a first communications channel; a secondcommunications system configured to transmit and receive signals on asecond communications channel; and a data processing system configuredto control the first communications system and the second communicationssystem by implementing data processing functions; wherein the electronicdevice is a component of a prosthetic medical device, wherein the dataprocessing functions comprise: data processing functionality configuredfor establishing a communications link with a remote electronic deviceby transmitting an initiation signal to the remote electronic device viathe first communications system; data processing functionalityconfigured for transmitting a confirmation signal to the remoteelectronic device via the first communications system; data processingfunctionality configured for establishing a communications link with theremote electronic device by communicating with the remote electronicdevice via the second communications system; data processingfunctionality configured for exchanging a unique identifier for thecommunications link with the remote electronic device via at least oneof the first communication system or the second communication system;data processing functionality to determine that communication over boththe first communications system and the second communications system hasbeen completed; data processing functionality to establish thecommunications link if communications via the first communicationssystem and the second communication system have been completed; and dataprocessing functionality to end attempts to establish the communicationslink if communications via the first communications system and secondcommunications system have not been completed.
 40. An electronic deviceas claimed in claim 39, wherein the second communications system has alonger range than the first communications system.
 41. An electronicdevice as claimed in claim 39, wherein the data processing functionsresult in: the communications link only being established ifcommunications over both the first and second communications channelsare successful, and pairing the prosthetic medical device with theremote electronic device can be carried out by bringing them intosufficiently close proximity that a signal transmitted on the firstcommunications channel by the implanted medical device can be receivedby remote electronic device without further user initiation of thesystem necessary.
 42. An electronic device as claimed in claim 39,wherein the data processing functions further comprise: data processingfunctionality configured to receive a pair request signal from theremote electronic device via the second communications channel; and dataprocessing functionality configured to transmit an acceptance signal tothe remote electronic device via the second communications channel,wherein the unique identifier is included in the acceptance signal. 43.An electronic device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the data processingfunctions further comprise: data processing functionality configured forreceiving a lock signal from the remote electronic device via the secondcommunications system, wherein the lock signal comprises a linkidentifier; data processing functionality for determining that the linkidentifier matches the unique identifier for the communications link;and data processing functionality for establishing the communicationslink by transmitting an acknowledgement signal via the secondcommunications system in response upon determining that the linkidentifier matches the unique identifier for the communications link.44. An electronic device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the prostheticmedical device is a hearing prosthesis.
 45. A remote electronic devicecomprising: a first communications system configured to at least receivesignals over a first communications channel; a second communicationssystem configured to transmit and receive signals on a secondcommunications channel; a user input device; and a data processingsystem configured to control the first communications system and thesecond communications system by implementing data processing functions,wherein the data processing functions comprise: data processing forreceiving an initiation signal from a medical device for establishmentof a communication link via the first communication channel; and dataprocessing functionality for establishing the communications link bycommunicating with the medical device via the first communicationchannel and the second communication channel.
 46. An electronic deviceas claimed in claim 45, wherein the electronic device is configured toreceive a user input via the user input interface, wherein theelectronic device is configured so that the user input initiatestransmissions via the second communication channel.
 47. A remoteelectronic device as claimed in claim 45, further comprising anon-transitory data storage, wherein the data processing functionsfurther comprise: data processing functionality for transmitting a pairrequest signal via the second communications channel in response toreceiving the initiation signal; data processing functionality forreceiving an acceptance signal via the second communications channel,wherein a unique identifier is embedded in the acceptance signal; dataprocessing functionality to store the unique identifier in thenon-transitory data storage; data processing functionality to receive aconfirmation signal after receiving the acceptance signal; dataprocessing functionality to determine whether the confirmation signalwas received; and data processing functionality to transmit a locksignal to the medical device via the second communications system inresponse to determining that the confirmation signal was received,wherein the unique identifier is embedded in the lock signal.
 48. Aremote electronic device as claimed in claim 45, wherein the remoteelectronic device is a controller configured to interface with theauditory prosthesis.
 49. A remote electronic device as claimed in claim45, wherein the second communication system is a Gigahertz frequencybased communication system.
 50. A remote electronic device as claimed inclaim 45, wherein the first communication system is of a different typethan the second communication system.